Strasbourg Cathedral

cathedral located in Bas-Rhin, in France

Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, or Cathédrale de Strasbourg, German: Liebfrauenmünster zu Straßburg or Straßburger Münster), also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a cathedral. The cathedral was built in Gothic style. The belltower is 142 m high. It was the highest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. It is currently the second-highest cathedral in France, after Rouen Cathedral, which is 9m higher, at 151m. In 1880, Cologne Cathedral was finished (157m), and later Ulm minster (at 161m), the highest Cathedral in the World.

Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral's west façade, viewed from Rue Mercière
Map
Record height
Tallest in the world from 1647 to 1874[I]
Preceded byMarienkirche im Stralsund
Surpassed bySankt-Nikolai-Kirche
General information
LocationStrasbourg, France
Coordinates48°34′54″N 7°45′03″E / 48.58167°N 7.75083°E / 48.58167; 7.75083
Construction started1015
Completed1439
Height
Antenna spire142 m (466 ft)
Technical details
Floor countn/a
References
[1]
West façade of the cathedral, viewed from Rue Mercière

Considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture. Nevertheless, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high, or late, Gothic architecture. Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318.

Victor Hugo described it as a "gigantic and delicate marvel".[2] The cathedral is visible far across the plains of Alsace and can be seen from as far off as the Vosges mountains or the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhine.

An Al-Qaeda plot to bomb the adjacent Christmas market was prevented in 2000 by French and German police.[3]


References change

  1. Strasbourg Cathedral at Emporis
  2. "Prodige du gigantesque et du délicat". Translation from a note at TrekEarth.com.
  3. France Convicts Islamic Militants Archived 2013-11-01 at the Wayback Machine - CBS.com